Yellowknife (May 07/04) - Turn off your TV, you won't be needing it any more. Following in the footsteps of the Legion's mega-popular North of 60 Idol, two more Yellowknife establishments are doing their own TV-inspired contests.

Roseann McPherson jigs to win at the Gold Range's jigging contest in February. The Gold Range has a Star Search talent competition on Thursday nights until May 27. - NNSL file photo

The Elks Club is planning a live version of Fear Factor.

Dave Hurley said the Elks have a full slate of contestants for the first round, which begins Saturday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m. upstairs in the Elk's Hall.

"I can't believe the number of people who were waiting for this to happen," said Hurley.

"We're doing the gross part. We're not going to be hanging people off of buildings or anything."

Sixteen brave people -- eight men and eight women -- will face off over plates of who knows what.

"What really surprised me were the number of women who entered," he said.

What exactly the gross-out events will entail is a secret, but Hurley said about 80 per cent of the dishes will be "home-grown," whatever that means.

On the first Saturday only eight of the 16 contestants will move on.

On May 29, the eight will be whittled down to four. The finals will be June 12, and the winner gets a trip to Edmonton.

The Elks plan to hold two more rounds, one in the fall and one next winter, and the top two contestants from each round will face off next spring for a grand prize yet to be announced.

The Elks have had all the dares evaluated by health officials and lawyers to make sure everything is safe, though gross, and paramedics will be on site in case people get overly sick.

If eating things that aren't meant to be eaten doesn't appeal to you, you can always try your luck in a talent contest.

The Gold Range launched its version of Star Search last Thursday night.

Like the televised variety show, anything goes. Contestants can sing, dance, throat sing, do a stand-up routine, juggle ... whatever their talent is.

The range of talent depends on who happens to be in the bar that evening. Manager Nadine McMenemy goes table to table around 9 p.m. to sign up 12 volunteers.

The Gold Range held a jigging contest earlier this year that packed the bar.

McMenemy said special events are popular because they create a buzz of excitement that patrons enjoy.

"The room is very happy," she said. "People really enjoy a break from the normal routine."

A panel of judges, which includes Renn Davies from CJCD and Ted Miltenberger, assesses each performer. The top three contestants from each Thursday night move on to the finals on May 27. Davies spent a week on the North of 60 Idol judging panel and was known for his brutal honesty, but McMenemy said it's Miltenberger who has turned out to be the "Simon."

Prizes are meant to get people ready for summer ("if it ever comes," noted McMenemy) and include patio furniture and barbecues.

Idol finals May 15

The popularity of the contest that started it all took the Legion by surprise.

"It's gone beyond our wildest dreams," said Legion manager Lorne Power of North of 60 Idol.

"We certainly didn't expect to be filled to capacity five weeks in a row."

For the finals on May 15, he expects to fill the downstairs hall as well. A second North of 60 Idol contest is in the planning stages.

The contest was conceived to fulfil two aims. One was to increase business for the Legion, but the other was to provide an opportunity for NWT singers to shine.

But once the ball got rolling, Power said the prizes became irrelevant.

"It's like they're not even interested in the trip to Nashville," said Power.

"They just want to be the North of 60 Idol."